Hardik Pandya to continue as MI captain: Mahela Jayawardene on IPL 2025 retention

MI team's head coach Mahela Jayawardane informed that Hardik Pandya will continue to lead the franchise in IPL 2025.

In Short

• Mumbai Indians announce their retentions for IPL 2025
• Hardik Pandya retained for Rs 16.35 crore by MI
• The franchise retains 5 players ahead of mega auction

Mumbai Indians newly appointed head coach Mahela Jayawardene informed that Hardik Pandya will continue as the captain of the franchise in the 2025 IPL season, having taken over the role in 2024 from Rohit Sharma. The franchise has chosen to retain its core of Indian players—Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma—going into the 2025 mega auction. With these five capped players locked in, MI will have one Right to Match (RTM) option, which they can use only on an uncapped player at the auction. Though the retention amounts for each player remain undisclosed, MI’s five-player retention will cost them a minimum of INR 75 crore from their INR 120 crore purse, possibly more if higher amounts were negotiated.

"Absolutely, that was a challenging decision for us. We had in-depth conversations with our coaches and owners. We needed to explore options to enhance our team's flexibility. Retaining these five uncapped players gives us great potential in key positions, allowing us to cover our spots effectively. They provide depth and versatility as we prepare for the upcoming season.It's also worth noting that Mumbai has never won a title without having a left-arm New Zealand seamer in the squad. That trend is quite significant for us," Mahela told Jio Cinema.

IPL 2025 retention: Live updates

Hardik continues to remain captain

Hardik’s return to MI as captain came after his impressive tenure with Gujarat Titans, where he captained the team to a title in their debut season and a runner-up finish in the following year. Despite the anticipation around his homecoming, Hardik’s first season as MI captain in 2024 was challenging, with the franchise finishing at the bottom of the standings. The change in leadership drew mixed reactions from fans, and Hardik faced boos in some venues. However, he turned around his form later in the year, contributing significantly to India’s successful 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.

Hardik’s leadership tenure at MI will be closely watched, especially with Suryakumar Yadav now leading India’s T20I side after Rohit’s retirement from the format. Although Hardik captained India through much of 2023, Suryakumar was eventually chosen as Rohit’s successor following the World Cup. As MI looks to bounce back from last season’s disappointment, Hardik has a chance to redefine his legacy with the franchise and continue Rohit’s tradition of success.